Bootleg Betty
Photo: Bette Midler – Gay Pride & More
By Mister D
June 1, 2026
Artwork by Sam Miro
Bette Midler & Gay Pride: A Summary
- Origins in the Gay Community (Early 1970s)
- Midler’s rise to fame began at the Continental Baths, a New York gay bathhouse where she performed for mostly gay men and built her first devoted fanbase. This is widely cited as the moment she “came to prominence.”
- Her performances there — with Barry Manilow as her accompanist — cemented her status as an early ally during a period of intense stigma.
Emergence as a Gay Icon - By the late ’70s and ’80s, her films (The Rose, Beaches, Hocus Pocus, The First Wives Club) became gay cult classics, further solidifying her icon status.
- LGBTQ+ media consistently ranks her among the top gay icons, with Pride.com listing “11 Reasons Why Bette Midler Is the Best Gay Icon Ever.”
- Advocacy & Public Support
- Midler has long used her platform to speak out for LGBTQ+ rights, equality, and dignity.
- In interviews, she has emphasized the importance of protecting children who are “a little bit different,” urging adults to intervene against bullying and discrimination.
- Her activism also intersects with her AIDS?era fundraising and public acknowledgment of the epidemic when many stars stayed silent.
- Pride-Era Influence
- Midler’s persona — camp, theatricality, irreverence, and emotional power — aligns naturally with Pride culture.
- Her music, especially anthems like “The Rose” and “Wind Beneath My Wings,” remains deeply woven into queer celebrations, memorials, and community rituals.
- Legacy
- From the bathhouses to Broadway to social media, Midler’s relationship with the LGBTQ+ community spans five decades.
- She remains a fixture in queer culture, political discourse, and Pride-season celebrations — a rare icon whose bond with the community is both historic and actively maintained.
